Hiking by Trail with an experienced Kauai Nature School Guide

In addition to our Field Tours we offer guided hiking on Kauai’s best hiking trails.

Some examples of Full Day Adventures include:

Awaawapuhi
– Difficulty 4
– Trial length 10 miles
– The premier Lookout trail for Kauai. Start off at a cool 4000 feet and descend through 2000 feet of strange and curious native and endemic forest.
– At the Awa Awaawapuhi lookout you are perched on a 2000 foot vertical drop to the Napali Coast where waves crash on volcanic boulders.
– If that wasn’t enough we take a snaking forest trail with view abundant through more ancient hawaiian ecosystems to Nualolo Lookout.
– Nualolo Lookout is the crown jewel of lookouts, where you can view the whole Napali coast in one singular awe inspiring gaze.
– A hearty and delicious local lunch and plenty of snacks are provided. This is a long strenuous trail that gives back in full with its amazing beauty. It is a personal favorite among guides and visitors.

Powerline Trail
– Difficulty 5
– Trail length – 10.3 miles
– The Power line Trail is a spectacular yet difficult trail that can be accessed from either the North Shore or the upper East Side in Wailua. The hike literally cuts through the island and gives you a spectacular view of the islands interior as well as distant sweeping ocean views.
– The Power-line Trail from the North Shore starts at Kapa Ka Street, up the road from Princeville Ranch Stables.
– The beginning of the trail is at the start of a dirt road used to access the electric transmission lines for maintenance, the route follows the eastern boundaries of Halelea Forest Reserve, ending near the Keahua Forestry Arboretum in the upper Wailua area where you can cool off in a mountain fed swimming hole with a rope swing.

Napali Coast Waterfall
– Difficulty 3-4
– Trail length – 6.9 miles
– You get a river, a beach and a waterfall in an ancient pristine valley.
– Hanakapiai Falls (or Hanakapi’ai Falls) is a very tall (maybe 300ft) waterfall nestled deep in the back of Hanakapi’ai Valley. A visit to this waterfall would be a half-day trip at a minimum taking in the first two miles of the Na Pali Coast as well as two miles into Hanakapi’ai Valley.
– Trail begins at Ke`e Beach traveling along high ocean-side cliffs. Narrow path passes in and out of several valleys with steep inclines and declines. Follow along Hanakapiai river to waterfall that drops into large, deep pool.

Alakai Swamp/Kilihana
– Difficulty 4
– Trail length – 7.4 miles
– The Pihea Trail or Kilohana Lookout is located at the end of Hwy. 550 at the Puu o Kila scenic lookout. Watch the graceful sea birds catch the wind drafts and fly freely over the valleys and Kalalau beach below. As you begin the trail you will find yourself perched on a land bridge straddling 4,000 feet above the Kalalau Valley floor and the Alakai Swamp, with inland views stretching to Mount Waialeale, “The Wettest Spot on Earth”.
– After the vista and the short downhill stretch you will meet up with the boardwalk that follows the trail through forest of Ohia, Koa, wild ferns, and other native plants. Keep your eyes open for rare sightings of one of the many birds that make this forest their home.

Waimea Canyon/Liahi
– Difficulty 4
– Waimea Canyon was carved out of the red dirt by a raging Waimea River, swollen with rainfall collected from Mount Waialeale, which is widely considered one of the wettest spots on earth. Waimea is the Hawaiian word for “reddish water,” a nod to the canyon’s formation. Today the river that cuts across the canyon is slow and placid — a perfect place to cool down before commencing the strenuous uphill march out of the valley.

Waimea Rim Trail/Blackpipe
– Difficulty 3
– Trail length – 3.8 miles
– Moderate Trail. Serves as an access to the Canyon Trail. Native hibiscus and iliau are among the plants found in the koa forest. The trail is so named because of the large black wooden pipe that hikers must cross.

Makaleha
– Difficulty 4
– Trail length – 2.6 miles
– The hike along (and in) the stream to Makaleha Falls is spectacular. The name of the mountains, the falls and stream, maka·leha – to gaze in wonder, ranks it among the most aptly named features on the island. The stream itself derives from three springs, two atop a western ridge and one to the north near Poohaku Pili (2,592 feet/790 meters).